The Attempt to Break the Ice Failed

"Sophia, you know? I started regretting it the moment you left." Azshara held her daughter and spoke gently.

"I did, too, Mother. You know how much I wish the three of us could be together every day. Father is a wonderful person." Sophia stroked her mother's cheek, tears welling in her eyes.

"Child, there are some things you still don't understand." Azshara's expression darkened.

"I'm all grown up now. I can even help Father handle government affairs."

"Oh? How impressive. Tell me, what can you do?"

"Queen Azshara, I bring you Prince Azar's friendship and a letter in his own hand." Sophia imitated the foreign minister with great seriousness, then bowed to Azshara.

"Hahaha, that's interesting. Vashj, serve the princess some Rose Dew." She formally took the letter from Sophia and began to read it carefully.

"What problem has that bull run into? This time, he's actually willing to back down?"

"Eldre'Thalas is too far from the Well of Eternity to benefit from the glory of Arcane Magic. So Father wants to build an extensive energy-supply network and extraction facilities to meet Eldre'Thalas's need for Arcane energy. Of course, the people of the capital can share in the convenience these facilities bring."

"Nothing else?"

"No. If Your Majesty has any conditions, you can name them. As long as they're within my authority, I can decide without asking for approval."

"I have just one small request. I want his Quel'Serrar."

"...Why? Mother, I don't understand."

"Silly child, it's just right. The secret between your father and me isn't something I can tell you. Go ask him whether he agrees."

Thanks to Azar's absurdly high standards for transportation, the construction crew reached Zin-Azshari a month later and immediately began building the Arcane Energy Purification Device. Among those who arrived with them was one of His Highness the Prince's personal swords, Quel'Delar. Eldre'Thalas had a great need for magical energy. At the very start of their research into Arcane Magic, they had discovered traces of evil energy within it. They had spent a long time researching how to separate it, and the result was that the mages of Feralas suffered far less from negative emotions than the mages of Zin-Azshari. Azar had proposed the idea to minimize the risk of Elves developing Mana Addiction. He firmly believed that the Well of Eternity had been tainted by the Old Gods' evil thoughts, causing a series of problems to follow, though even he didn't know whether his plan would work.

A month later. The Queen's bedchamber. Azshara was playing with Quel'Delar. Ever since the sword had come into her possession, it had become her personal weapon. She cherished it dearly and wouldn't let anyone touch it. Whenever she had a spare moment, she held it and turned it over in her hands.

"Your Majesty, what's so special about this sword? You asked for Quel'Serrar, but they sent Quel'Delar instead. That's a great insult. You should issue a decree reprimanding them."

"What do you know? He was right to give me Quel'Delar. You've never been married; you wouldn't understand." Azshara paid no mind to the disrespect in Vashj's tone. Still lost in the emotions of that morning, she wore a sweet smile. She knew her husband understood what she meant. It seemed he still cared for her—otherwise, how could he remember her habit of throwing little tantrums?

Three months later, still in the Queen's bedchamber.

"Mother, I have to go back."

"So soon?" Azshara said reluctantly.

"Yes. The first energy pipeline is about to be connected, and Father is waiting for me there."

"But, child, I can't bear to see you go." Azshara gently stroked her daughter's hair. At that moment, she wasn't a queen—just an ordinary mother.

"I can't bear to leave you, either. Why don't you come with me? This is such an important occasion. Her Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Prince should both be there!"

"Would that be appropriate?" The queen was clearly tempted by the idea.

"It would! It would be perfect! There couldn't be a better time. Please, Mother, come with me..." Seeing her chance, Sophia resorted to begging.

"Very well, then."

This was the first major joint project between the two regions, and both sides attached great importance to it. But the prince and queen arriving together was far beyond anyone's expectations. The celebrations descended into chaos as everyone scrambled to raise the festivities to a higher level. The people were simple in their joy: the simultaneous appearance of the prince and queen they revered was a momentous event. But to the high-ranking officials on both sides, it meant something else entirely. Many wondered what kind of show this was. Were they getting back together? Happiest of all was Princess Sophia, the instigator of the whole affair. She happily walked along with one hand holding her mother's and the other her father's. The other two let their daughter lead them wherever she pleased. She deserved this. She had waited for this moment her entire childhood, and both parents felt they owed her.

The guards had already moved far away from a pile of boulders, leaving the family of three alone. The two sat facing each other on the ground as Sophia ran around them cheerfully. Sometimes she would drape herself over her father's back and make a face at her mother; other times, she would snuggle into her mother's arms and sneak glances at her father.

"Have you been well?" the woman asked, breaking the silence.

"Not bad. What about you? Running a great kingdom can't be easy."

"You know it's no trouble for me. Of course, it would be even better if you helped me."

"..."

"After all these years, can't you forgive me?"

"..."

"What are you thinking? Can't you tell me?"

"...There are some things I can't explain just yet. Take care of yourself. Sophia, we should go." With that, he took Sophia's hand and headed back.

"Actually, you've already forgiven Mother, haven't you?" Sophia quietly asked Azar, who looked solemn on the way back.

"It's been so long. Forgiveness doesn't matter anymore."

"Then why aren't you together? Is it because she's the queen?"

"Status isn't the problem for us. Our personalities are the biggest obstacle. Perhaps this is for the best."

On the other side, Azshara gave Vashj the same answer. Perhaps they were too alike, understood each other too well, and thought too similarly. That, too, could become an obstacle to being together.

Whatever the case, Eldre'Thalas's energy problems had been temporarily eased. The energy pipelines would continue to be built, providing a major project that would stimulate domestic demand and improve relations. As someone from Earth, Azar knew that control over the lifeline of energy had to remain in his own hands. So it was time to prepare to launch his ultimate plan: the New Well of Eternity Project!